... Flappy paddles?

I am looking at getting some for my rally build, but was just wondering if this has been done yet and/or how hard this is to do?

You're looking at automating a manual gearbox????

still in design stage of the rally build, so open to opinions on whats the best gearbox to use but preferably wanna have flappy paddles

ah right i thought we were talking about trying to get lightly modified road car to shift on paddles!

If you're going down the full from scratch build i'd just speak to some motorsport companies.

They'll advise you on gearboxes etc probably do a new sequential unit you could get to fit and work on paddles.

I'd expect a biiiiig bill though

could it be done on a lightly modified road car with a manual box? I have seen online you get flappy paddle kits with hardware to work with manual transmission but i dont no much about it

Id say NO

best off gettinga straight cut "dog box"

whats a straight cut "dog box"?

Surely youd still want a clutch?

I don't know how much you are looking to spend, but it's not a cheap idea.

As well as the above you could convert the car to a DSG and add paddles too.

Which could be easier if you can find a smashed up donor mkII VRS fabia, or something similar.

By easier, I mean rather tricky, but easier than a scratch build.

Actually, getting a motorsport sequential box would probably be easier.

Again, deep pockets needed though. Probably £5,000 or so plus getting it to fit and work.

i'd be intrigued if you've got a link to the conversion kit you talk of.

Personally I'd just stick with manual.

It'll be a shed load of work to get it to work and i'd always be super worried about the systems ability and reliability

It'd also be super expensive i reckon.

If these guys can make do with manual in a 325i then i'm sure you'd manage in a fabia

I may be wrong, but doesnt a manual sequential gearbox use rods from the levers to the box? in which case youd probably sat on the wrong side of the car lol

whats a straight cut "dog box"?

Just like touring cars etc.. a giant gear knob with a handle on the end.. bang it straight up + down to change gears.. dont use the clutch

I may be wrong, but doesnt a manual sequential gearbox use rods from the levers to the box? in which case youd probably sat on the wrong side of the car lol

The rods are usually down the centre, like the standard linkage as far as I know.

Think of rally cars, they retain both front seats.

Ah yeah fair point, I was thinking of the up/down levers behind the wheel rather than the central stick!

I believe paddles are electronic and work something attached to the gearbox.

Mine are anyway.

Just like touring cars etc.. a giant gear knob with a handle on the end.. bang it straight up + down to change gears.. dont use the clutch

I thought that was sequential?

I thought a dogbox is where 1st is to the left and down, leaving the more commonly used 2nd and 3rd straight up and down from each other?

I thought that was sequential?

I thought a dogbox is where 1st is to the left and down, leaving the more commonly used 2nd and 3rd straight up and down from each other?

That's a dogleg box

Dogbox:

Dog Box transmissions have fewer teeth, but they are larger and much straighter. They use far fewer parts than OEM transmissions while still retaining reliability. These gears are made to handle fast shifts in high horse powered vehicles. To some extent, the straight-teeth design creates a unique, almost whining sound inside the car. Not all Dog Box transmissions sound the same, but for the majority, the gears produce a sound similar to the noise a stock reverse gear makes when in use. Less parts and dog teeth make this upgrade a highly effective item for any serious racer.

Although these transmissions can be driven on the street, they're intended for racing. In order to shift, the user must unload a little torque to ensure the dog teeth are not lined up. This can be done by tapping the clutch or letting off the gas similar to shifting a stock transmission. The majority of racers with bigger budgets utilize a strain gauge to unload power. A strain gauge sends a signal to the ECU to stop the ignition which in turn unloads power long enough for a super quick shift. Though these tranny's are strong, that doesn't mean they can't be improperly used. That's why caution is strongly urged in using this transmission for daily driving. Grocery duties are better left to a backup beater.

Most racers with cars producing over 300 WHP opt for a Dog Box after they get tired of replacing their stock transmission. Repeatedly replacing transmissions and the parts involved is time consuming and costly. A few blown transmissions resulting in "Did Not Finish" scores and several thousand dollars in repair costs can entice even the most thrifty competitor.

Took that off Yahoo Answers

Lol my bad.. sequential is what u want then

http://www.mastershift.com/new-street-manual.html

This website lets you have flappy paddles with a manual gearbox

Was just about to say straight cut, dog, and sequential boxes are different boxes all together. Straight cut still retain baulk rings to slow down the gears to reduce/stoop crunching into gears.

Dog box has no baulk rings just need to blip the throttle for downshifts etc. just use the clutch for setting off (can use it all the time though)

Be warned straight cut boxes are very noisy, especially if you run a SC final drive, in actual fact they are also weaker as you only have 1 tooth engaged at a time compared to 3 on a helical box. just SC boxes have no side loading on the gears due to the cut of the teeth so therefore people 'think' they are stronger.

Basic shifting is simple: just hit the shift buttons or paddles, press the clutch pedal, and the MasterShift™ Manual Shifter will push or pull the shift cables to place the shift shaft in the requested position, as you would have done manually before you had it. It is also possible to “stack” multiple shifts by pressing the paddle or button several times before pressing the clutch pedal. The Manual Shifter will then move straight to the requested target gear position.

So you pull the paddles, then stand on the clutch?

If you still need the clutch what are you actually saving?

1. A vehicle with a MasterShift™ hardware supported H-pattern transmission, or a currently cable shifted transmission. Currently supported transmissions and transaxles are Tremec TKO, Tremec T-56, Tremec TR-3650, RBT-5 (formally the ZF), and RBT-6. Coming soon! Hardware for the C5/C6/Z06!

These are serious gearboxes meant for Corvettes, Mustangs, Moslers and large capacity American muscle cars.

I doubt very very VERY much that the kit will be compatible with a Fabia gearbox, nor do i think the gearbox manufacturers woudl make one that fits, not would you want to pay for it.

Bossfox what was there in the RallyCross LHD 1.8T Fabia you had?

Given that was built for a very similar purpose, albeit with a very differnet engine, you think they'd have done it right.....

as a side thought have a read over this thread

Albeit a petrol Fabia but still purpose built for rallying.....

Quaife Dog Box kit

http://www.quaife.co...roducts/qke3v-1

EDIT:

Oh and this is what a Straight cut final drive sounds like.....goes on and on and on louder and louder. The noise is made by the gearoil being squeezed out of the gap between the gear teeth at the speed of sound I'm led to believe

Yup dogbox req! Stuff the flappy paddle!

Not cheap my mate paid 10k for one in his scooby

I paid 1k for a straight cut gear kit for my Mini, a full 6 speed dog box for one is like 6k

Bossfox what was there in the RallyCross LHD 1.8T Fabia you had?

Given that was built for a very similar purpose, albeit with a very differnet engine, you think they'd have done it right.....

Stock Audi TT box.